Photo: Adrian Pablo

Police have identified the bodies of the two female victims who died in an arson attack on a Deptford block of flats last Friday.

The women have been named as Sri Lankan nationals, Santhirapathy Tharmalingam, 59, who was visiting the UK, and Kunaliny Alagaratnam, 42, a resident of the tower block.

The victims were both found dead at the scene of the fire at Marine Tower, Abinger Grove. Post mortem examinations showed that the women died as a direct result of the fire.

Sandra Clarke, 49, who lives in the tower block, has been charged with manslaughter, arson with intent to endanger life and arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

She will appear via video link at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on February 14.

Emergency services were called to Marine Tower in Deptford, at 2.45pm, and by 4.20 they had managed to bring the fire under control.

At least 50 fire fighters battled the flames after the blaze spread to the 16th floor of the building. Ten fire engines, seven paramedic crews and the air ambulance arrived at the scene.

Four other people were treated by paramedics at the scene, and one woman was taken to Lewisham Hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation. Thirty-five people were evacuated from the flats.

A spokeswoman for Lewisham Council said: “We are making arrangements for those residents who need to be re-housed as a result of the fire.”

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